In Pictures: Rooney v Messi

Fri May 27 2011 13:58:28 GMT+0000

The stage is set at Wembley Stadium for the mouth-watering clash between English Premier League champions Manchester United and Catalan giants Barcelona in the European Champions League final [GALLO/GETTY]

A second triumph in three years, and their third since 2006, will give Pep Guardiola(***)s Barcelona equal status among legendary teams like Real Madrid(***)s 1950(***)s vintage, or Johan Cruyff(***)s Ajax [AFP]

Hoping to stand in the way are United, the newly crowned English champions who were overwhelmed 2-0 by Barca(***)s precision passing game when the sides met in Rome in the 2009 final [GALLO/GETTY]

All eyes will be on Barcelona striker Lionel Messi and United striker Wayne Rooney on Saturday night [GALLO/GETTY]

Widely heralded as the best player in the world, the sensational Argentina forward is the man United must stop if they are to avoid a repeat of his match-winning performance in the 2009 Champions League final [GALLO/GETTY]

Messi has scored 52 goals this season in all competitions and is top scorer in the Champions League with 11 in 12 games [GALLO/GETTY]

For United to win at Wembley they will have to neutralise a Lionel Messi attack backed with a midfield of the twin talents of Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez [GALLO/GETTY]

The 24-year-old has scored 179 goals for Barcelona, won 55 Argentina caps and won five Spanish League titles and two Champions League titles. He won the FIFA Ballon d(***)Or in 2010 [GALLO/GETTY]

United striker Rooney has played himself back into form following a very public spat about wages earlier in the season [GALLO/GETTY]

If United are to win a fourth European title, they need a top performance from Rooney. The England forward cut a forlorn figure in the 2009 final, but switching to a deeper role has given him more space to torment defenders [GALLO/GETTY]

Twenty-five year old Wayne Rooney has scored 146 goals for Manchester United and won 70 England caps. He has won four English Premier League titles, one Champions League title and was awarded 2010 PFA Player of the Year [EPA]

Both managers are hunting for glory - a United victory would take Ferguson level with Bob Paisley of Liverpool as the only manager to win the competition three times. For Guardiola, it would be a second Champions League title in just three seasons as coach [EPA]

But United manager Ferguson has his eye on Messi: "We have played against Barcelona three times with Messi in the team ... there is always a solution to every good player. Hopefully we can find one on Saturday" [GALLO/GETTY]